
(CNN) - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's rock-star status could solidly position her to lead the Republican Party in four years, but former top Bush aide Karl Rove said the "marketplace of ideas" will ultimately decide her political future.
"Republicans believe in markets, so the marketplace of ideas will decide what the answer [to her future] is," Rove told NBC Tuesday. "These people are going to get out there, campaign, offer their ideas, offer themselves."
Palin has declined to say whether she is officially interested in seeking the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, but has left open the possibility. Palin's popularity among the party's base and firmly established name-recognition would likely mean instant top-tier status should she decide to throw her hat into the ring.
But ultimately, Rove said, Republicans need more time to get to know Palin before embracing her as the party's future.
"Remember she was on the stage for nine weeks in the general election - that’s not a lot of time," he said. "Now we are going to get to a chance see her over a longer period of time."


Time to start the hateful comments, lets go everybody have fun.
The pill-poppin' pig and the lipstick-wearin' pig. What a pair. There you go, GOP – the future of your party.
palin go away!!!
My hope is that Gov Palin be the great hope of the Republican party!
I mean......if she's the best they can come up with, they are pretty much nullified as a viable party for a good generation or so (LOL) !
GWS, Republican party!
Karl who?
Karl Rove is irrelevant. Why is he getting any press at all? He should be brought up on felony charges in connection with the Valerie Plame outing.
This country will never be ready for a person like Governor Palin to be our president.
Thank goodness!
Palin and Rove. Trailer trash and just plain trash.
If she is the party's future, it will seal their fate. What happened to all of the smart people in the GOP? Did Bush throw them out?
Some people are expectin' her to learn somethin' in the next few years. Good luck with that.
Sara is the best hope for the U.S. and the Democrats. It will keep the country on the upward swing if she gets the GOP nomination in 2012 as the exposure will highlight the Republican objectives.
Please Republicans run Governor Ding-Bat in 2012. I'm not in the mood to see Obama in another competitive race.
First IMPRESSION is what counts and Sarah Palin's was HORRIBLE.
Rove is obviously feeling as useless as he is. Who cares what he thinks Sarah Palin's future is in the Republican party? Why doesn't he do something besides sit on the sidelines and throw out his self-appointed important opinions? He has done nothing for this country, that's for sure.
Palin need to stay in Alaska and fix her daughter problems who is really Bristol baby daddy the true will come out soon. Palin go home we dont need you in Georgia.
Why hasn't Rove been arrested for contempt of Congress??
If anyone who posts here ignored a subphoena, you would have the authorities knocking at your front door in no time flat. Rove is an ordinary citizen who is not above or beyond the law or the Constitution.
Rove and Palin are a perfect match.
No integrity or honor, spewing and supporting hate and division
in our country, phony and will try and do anything to further their
agenda.
Their middle name is sleeze. Their actions and words are lies.
Sara, go and stay home, Rove, go to prison where you belong.
Why does the media keeping reporting on what Karl Rove has to say? Has he did enough damage in the past eight years?
Why must CNN report on what Karl Rove says once or twice a week? Seriously? He is now irrelevant to today's news.
I have a market place idea...Obama should appoint Rove as emissary to the most remote place on Earth...the South Pole!
And the Moose Lady as emissary to Santa Claus.
What a barnacle.
Oh please just let her go away!!! At least for a couple years – maybe in that time she can learn the English language (although as a journalism major – you'd think she would be well spoken), learn that foreign policy knowledge is just that – knowledge about other countries, that the lower 48 don't have huge oil revenues to distribute to their citizens thus guaranteeing a huge approval rating, that they also have poverty, crime, environmental problems as yet unseen in itty bitty Alaska (the population...), that you can't govern a country with the same skill set you govern Alaska.
I have a market place idea...Obama should appoint Rove as emissary to the most remote place on Earth...the South Pole!
And the Moose Lady as emissary to Santa Claus.
Get a conservative to run for once.
It's been a long, long time since we've seen a real conservative run for President.
BTW Sarah you are not conservative. Not even close.
get rid of the Bible Thumpers and look "conservative" up in the dictionary.
I just hope Rove gets to see the inside of a prison for an extended time.
Rove is actually right about this one. She's too gimicy and shallow to be considered a serious contender and the republicans can do much better. If they can't then the GOP is a lot of trouble or they've overlooked a gem.